Saying it received reassurances of transparency in discussions about the future of Jefferson Parish's two public hospitals, the Civic League of East Jefferson has withdrawn its request that the Parish Council delay voting on the hospitals' future. The council is holding a public hearing Wednesday on a measure to strip the public of its right to vote on whether to lease the hospitals to outside interests.

The Civic League's sudden about-face came in a letter from Ralph Brandt, president of the umbrella group for East Jefferson homeowner associations. He wrote:

"Recently the Civic League wrote to the Parish Council regarding our concerns over the apparent lack of transparency in the process regarding the revision of the parish ordinance requiring a public referendum before the Hospital Districts could lease the hospitals. Subsequent discussions with Sheriff Newell Normand, chairman of the East Jefferson Hospital Board, have led to this assurance that written answers to these concerns will be forthcoming. We would ask the council to ensure the utmost transparency in the upcoming processes and addressing the concerns in our recent correspondence.''